Local Roots

I searched and searched and called and it looks like they are closed for good. Can anyone confirm? Sad I missed checking it out!

This is a tiny little shop on the far side of the Paul Revere Mall from the Greenway side of North End. They’re pretty new and still trying to get their name out.
It seems to be run by a husband and wife team, of whom only the wife was in the shop on the afternoon of my visit. They have fresh local produce as well as fresh not so local produce (ie. bananas, pineapples, both care of Dole).
Additionally, they will whirl you a fresh fruit smoothie — if you consider it your meal, $ 6 won’t hurt too much, but otherwise — whoa! And they offer a smoothie rewards card — buy 10 get one free. Make your own for a varying cost. Boosts cost a dollar surcharge (flaxseeds, goji berries, whey protein, coconut oil, VITA COCO water).
They’re a small shop, so they can’t carry everything under the sun, but they do aim to carry the fresh products of the season. They didn’t have any basil on this visit, but they offered to get me fresh basil for $ 1 for a larger clamshell if I were to call the day prior. So they get my fan star just for that.
I spied some nut mix, candied ginger, and jars of wild honey from CT. While many items had prices clearly marked, others did not, which was kind of annoying.

Thank God that local is open!
I am pretty sure that I go there every day now! Their juice smoothies are out of this world! The fresh produce is incredible too & it’s supporting local businesses and farms… so what’s better than that?!
Jayne & Marco (the owners) are wonderful! They are always excited to see people come in and know virtually everyone by name! It is like it’s own little community!
sidenote: The coconut grove & popeye’s punch drinks are AMAZING… everyone should try them at least once!!!
loveeee this place!

I’m thrilled to have these guys right under my apartment, they’re a great addition to the neighborhood. They have a great selection of local produce, reasonable prices, and a commitment to the local community.
Better quality than Haymarket or Whole Foods, with much better service, Marco clearly knows his product well and always has great recommendations. It’s well worth the walk down Hanover to check them out!

I absolutely LOVE this place! They have direct from farm fruits and vegetables and are so fresh. If you are looking for something special the owner calls around and gets it delivered to the store within a day or two. The prices are relatively low for the area and the owner remembered my husband and I from a month before. You just don’t get that kind of store anymore especially in this part of town. This is the type of local business that deserves success and I hope they get it.

Could I be happier this place opened up next door? Local Roots has quickly become my «go to» place to veggies, fruit, eggs, and milk. Knowing the majority (if not all?) of the produce is local I was pleasantly surprised by the amazing variety and freshness this time of year. I bought tomatoes that were as good as anything I would find in August, and as soon as I took them out of my bag, my entire kitchen smelled like of them. I am able to buy just about anything I would need… even random items like star fruit is in full supply. If there is an item you are looking for, let them know and they will try and carry it for you. I expected to pay more then I would at a grocery store, but guess what? I was wrong! The prices are very comparable to Trader Joes, and less then a Wholefoods. The quality is much better then I get at at either store.
Finally, I am also loving the old school milk bottles which you can recycle back at Local Roots.

Confession: I can’t stand the Haymarket Farmer’s Market. It’s too crowded & both vendors and patrons are constantly yelling. I cannot buy produce under those conditions.
Thank goodness, then, for Local Roots, which is not only much closer to my apartment, but is cozy and quiet (ok, it was quiet because I went near closing time and was the only patron there, but still). It is far enough up Hanover Street that it will be off the tourist radar, which will be, quite frankly, a loss to the tourists.
But I digress. You need to know about Local Roots, not about my shopping preferences. Here is a handy list:
*It is a tiny place; scout it out through the door before entering to see if there is a crowd & plan accordingly.
*The store owner with whom I spoke went out of his way to be helpful. Do you like to chat? Do you want to talk about produce in a meaningful way? Go here. They’re nice.
*This winter I’ve had a tough time finding tasty strawberries. That problem ended at Local Roots. Get the strawberries.
*The portobello mushrooms are HUGE. That alone will keep me coming back.
*They accept cash & LevelUp, which is an unusual combination. Plan accordingly.